Artichoke Nash Metropolitan

Submitted by Markydoodle December 4th, 2010
Certifikitsch Winner

Just south of Castroville, California (about 15 miles north of Monterey) on Hwy 1.

This cartoon lady is nervous about the cowboy loading her artichoke.

Looks like it’s almost a fit.

Do you remember the Nash Metropolitan? Lois Lane drove one in the Superman TV series. People claim that it was the first car ever marketed to women in this country. I saw one driving down Santa Monica boulevard a couple months ago, and it was salmon and white. The lady driving it had a huge hat on her head with the top down, and she looked so happy. She was driving about 10 mph.

11 Responses to “Artichoke Nash Metropolitan”

  1. Allee Willis

    Those signs are all over Northern California. But this is one of the more elaborate ones I’ve ever seen. For the most part I couldn’t stand them when I first saw them but I’ve lightened up and decided they’re really funny. That the artichoke is getting loaded into the back of a Metropolitan is fabulous. I bet you whoever made that sign owns one.

    I almost bought a Metropolitan to match my black, white and aquamarine 55 De Soto in the 80’s but my friend, Toni “Mickey” Basil, drove around in one for years and I remember it was such a pain in the ass sometimes, especially if you attempted to do a U-turn. The turn radius was something like 56 feet. I still think it’s one of the greatest looking cars ever made though. And I love artichokes. So maybe I’ll learn to super love these signs after seeing this one.

    • windupkitty

      hahaahahahah the turn radius was 56 feet……hahaahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

  2. k2dtw

    This is so great.. I’ve never seen them, do they represent the farm?? I can’t tell, are they one sided flat signs??

    • Mark Milligan

      Allee said they are all over Northern California, and I’m not that well traveled there, and haven’t seen the others, but if there are others, I’d guess it’s a cooperative effort among the artichoke growers.

      They’re flat signs with what I think must be blown up photos and artwork on them!

  3. Mark Milligan

    I’d guess the turning radius was so large because of how low the front fenders go over the the wheels.
    I think in ’57 the big Nash models started to lift that fender opening higher, but the Met. was discontinued in ’62 with the same style.
    The Nash Met. is exactly why the sign caught my eye.
    I remember having a car wash to raise money for something in high school and Violetha Draper and her husband had one of these and a ’68 Dodge Charger, and they asked us to wash both of them. I drove them both that day. All over town. Washed the Charger twice.

  5. Michael Ely

    My grandmother drove a Nash Metropolitan when I was a little kid. I thought it was the coolest car ever. It was turquoise and white.

    • Mark Milligan

      Michael so was the one I drove.

      The shifter was so weird, it was a three on the tree configuration, and it was so loosey-goosey, it was hard to tell when it was in gear.

      Your Grandmother must’ve been cool!